AGENCIES / NEW DELHI
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence here today. In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, Secretary Pompeo exchanged views on various aspects of Indo-US relationship with the Prime Minister.
Two sides are working together to further strengthen the strategic partnership. Mr Kumar said, Prime Minister Modi will meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming G-20 Osaka Summit to be held in Japan.
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar is now holding talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Dr Jaishankar welcomed Mr Pompeo as the first US dignitary to visit India after elections. Two leaders will exchange views on a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
Terrorism, H1B visas, trade and the situation arising out of US sanctions on buying oil from Iran are expected to be discussed. This will be the first high-level engagement with the US after the General Elections in India.
The Secretary of State arrived in New Delhi last night on a three-day visit to India. He is also scheduled to meet Indian and US businesses in a round table format and deliver a policy speech at the India International Centre.
Mr Pompeo’s visit is an important opportunity for both sides to explore ways to further strengthen the India-US Strategic Partnership. Diplomatic sources said the talks should be seen as a getting to know each other meeting, rather than one with concrete deliverables and agreements.
Sources said, there has been substantial progress on this front with trade going up by double digits in the last three years and trade deficit going down by double digits.